U.S. patent number 9,255,678 [Application Number 14/160,190] was granted by the patent office on 2016-02-09 for lighting appliance for vehicles.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.. The grantee listed for this patent is Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.. Invention is credited to Carsten Hohmann, Martin Mugge.
United States Patent |
9,255,678 |
Hohmann , et al. |
February 9, 2016 |
Lighting appliance for vehicles
Abstract
A lighting appliance for vehicles with a light unit includes a
light source and a light guide assigned to the light source for the
creation of a given light function, wherein the light guide is
embodied as a rod-shaped light guide with a punctiform surface for
the coupling-out of light or as a flat light guide with a
line-shaped or a sheet-like surface for the coupling-out of light,
wherein for the creation of the light function, a light surface
magnifying unit is provided, which comprises a light source and a
mask template unit for the generation of an illumination pattern
from a light beam sent from a light source onto a projection
screen.
Inventors: |
Hohmann; Carsten (Warstein,
DE), Mugge; Martin (Geseke, DE) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. |
Lippstadt |
N/A |
DE |
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Assignee: |
Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.
(DE)
|
Family
ID: |
51064308 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/160,190 |
Filed: |
January 21, 2014 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20140286030 A1 |
Sep 25, 2014 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jan 21, 2013 [DE] |
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10 2013 100 561 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21S
43/31 (20180101); F21S 43/14 (20180101); F21S
43/50 (20180101); F21S 43/255 (20180101); F21S
43/237 (20180101); F21S 43/00 (20180101); F21S
43/249 (20180101); F21S 43/26 (20180101); F21S
43/239 (20180101); F21S 43/243 (20180101); F21S
43/37 (20180101); G03H 1/2202 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F21S
8/10 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;362/511 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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102008034376 |
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Jan 2010 |
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DE |
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102008048765 |
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Mar 2010 |
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DE |
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214492 |
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Apr 1924 |
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GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Bruce; David V
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Husch Blackwell LLP
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A lighting appliance for vehicles with a light unit comprising:
a light source and a light guide assigned to the light source for
the creation of a given light function, wherein the light guide is
a rod-shaped light guide with a punctiform surface for the
coupling-out of light or as a flat light guide with a line-shaped
or a sheet-like surface for the coupling-out of light, a light
surface magnifying unit operable for the creation of said light
function, which light surface magnifying unit comprises a light
source and a mask template unit for the generation of an
illumination pattern from a light beam sent from a light source
onto a projection screen.
2. The lighting appliance according to claim 1, wherein the
projection screen is arranged adjacent to the light guide of the
light unit.
3. The lighting appliance according to claim 1, wherein the
projection screen is dome-shaped, and that the line-shaped surface
for the coupling-out of light of the light unit abuts on its front
edge.
4. The lighting appliance according to claim 1, wherein the mask
template unit comprises a projection body having an illumination
pattern and being arranged in the vicinity of the light source of
the light surface magnifying unit.
5. The lighting appliance according to claim 4, wherein the
projection body is embodied in a cylindrical or tubular manner.
6. The lighting appliance according to claim 4, wherein the
projection body comprises light-proof and light-transmissive
sections as masking to create the illumination pattern.
7. The lighting appliance according to claim 4, wherein the
projection body comprises a masking film having a masking.
8. The lighting appliance according to claim 4, wherein the
projection body comprises two light-transmissive cylinders between
which the masking film is arranged.
9. The lighting appliance according to claim 4, further comprising
light deflecting means for the deflection of the light radiated
from the light source in the direction of the projection body are
assigned to the projection body.
10. The lighting appliance according to claim 4, wherein a shield
is arranged on a front side of the projection body and/or the
projection screen.
11. The lighting appliance according to claim 4, wherein the
projection body is rotatably supported around an axis of rotation
running parallel to the main radiation direction and can be rotated
by means of an adjusting device.
12. The lighting appliance according to claim 11, wherein the
projection body is rotatable by a constant velocity or by a
velocity depending on the driving speed of the vehicle by means of
the adjusting device.
13. The lighting appliance according to claim 4, wherein the shape
of the projection screen is adapted to the shape of the projection
body or vice versa.
14. The lighting appliance according to claim 1, wherein the light
surface magnifying unit comprises an arrangement of reflectors or
Fresnel lenses.
15. The lighting appliance according to claim 1, wherein the light
surface magnifying unit comprises a light source and a mask
template unit placed in the main radiation direction in front of
the light source for the creation of an illumination pattern on a
front projection screen by means of the light beam radiated by the
light source, wherein the projection screen is embodied as a
translucent or structured lens.
16. A lighting appliance according to claim 1, wherein the
projection screen is embodied so that the light beam is deflected
in the main radiation direction.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE
This application claims priority to German Patent Application No.
10 2013 100 561.6, filed Jan. 21, 2013.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a lighting appliance for vehicles with a
light unit comprising a light source and a light guide assigned to
the light source for the creation of a given light function,
wherein the light guide is embodied as a rod-shaped light guide
with a punctiform surface for the coupling-out of light or as a
flat light guide with a line-shaped or a sheet-like surface for the
coupling-out of light.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
From DE 10 2008 048 765 A1, a lighting appliance for vehicles is
known, which comprises a light unit with a multitude of light
sources as well as a flat light-guide assigned to them. The flat
light guide has a line-shaped surface for the coupling-in of light
and a line-shaped surface for the coupling-out of light, between
which flat sides extend on which the coupled-in light is fully
reflected in the direction of the line-shaped surface for the
coupling-out of light. The light unit allows the creation of a
relatively small light band, which can, for example, be used for
the creation of a daytime running light function. If this light
unit is to be used for the creation of a stop light- and direction
indicator function, it would fail to meet the legal requirements
relating to-the minimum surface size for the light function
applicable in the United States of America. To create the light
function, the lit area would have to be magnified, which in turn
would require an additional light source resp. light guide. The
styling requirements relating to lighting appliances for vehicles
are high, however. An additional simple shining function surface to
achieve the legally required surface size is not desirable.
Therefore, the problem of the present invention is the further
development of a lighting appliance for vehicles with a relatively
small illuminated surface of a signal function so that the legal
requirements with regard to the minimum illuminated surface are
always met and so that a simple method for a pleasing appearance of
the lighting appliance and for the variation of the appearance is
ensured.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve this problem, for the creation of said light function, a
light surface magnifying unit is provided, which comprises a light
source and a mask template unit for the generation of an
illumination pattern from a light beam sent from a light source
onto a projection screen, wherein the projection screen is embodied
so that the light beam is deflected in the main radiation
direction.
In a reflected-light projection variant of the invention, a masking
surface extends in the main radiation direction of the light unit;
in a transmitted-light projection variant of the invention it
extends transverse to the main radiation direction of the light
unit. In the transmitted-light projection variant of the invention
the mask template unit can be arranged in front of the light source
in the light radiation direction to project the illumination
pattern created by the mask template unit onto a translucent or
structured lens which is positioned in front of the mask template
unit (transmitted-light projection).
The particular advantage of the invention is that by means of a
light surface magnifying unit comprising a mask template unit
according to the invention, a given illumination pattern for the
creation of an additional illuminated surface is created in a
simple manner. This light surface magnifying unit exclusively
serves the magnification of the illuminated surface, so that by
adding the surface for the coupling-out of light (illuminated
surface) of a light unit creating the given light function and the
illuminated surface of the light surface magnifying surface, a
total illuminated surface is achieved which is larger than the
legally required minimum illuminated surface for the light
function.
The mask template unit allows that a specific illumination pattern
is created depending on the desired design of the lighting
appliance. By this means the illumination pattern can be selected
depending on the shape of the lighting appliance and or
customer-specific recognition features or it can be easily adapted
for different vehicle model ranges or vehicle equipment
variants.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a projection
screen of the light surface magnifying unit is arranged adjacent to
the light guide of the light unit, so that the light surface of the
light surface magnifying unit abuts directly on the light surface
of the light unit. By this means, a uniform total light surface is
created.
According to a further development of the invention, the projection
surface is embodied dome-shaped, so that a relatively large
illumination surface can be provided by using the depth of the
housing of the lighting appliance.
According to a further development of the invention, the mask
template unit has a projection body, which is arranged in the
vicinity of the light source of the light surface magnifying unit.
By this means, a masking created in the projection body can be
projected onto the preferably diffuse projection surface in the
manner of a slide projector.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
projection body comprises a masking film having an illumination
pattern. The masking film can, for example, be embodied as a
printed film, so that different illumination patters with as many
identical parts of the light surface magnifying unit as possible
can be realized by simple means.
According to a further development of the invention, light
deflecting means are assigned to the projection body, so that the
light radiated from the light source of the light surface
magnifying unit in the direction of the projection body is
deflected.
According to a further development of the invention, a shield is
arranged at the front of the projection body and/or the projection
screen, so that the radiated light beam does not dazzle a vehicle
driving ahead or oncoming vehicles.
According to a further development of the invention, the projection
body is rotatably supported around an axis of rotation running
parallel to the main radiation direction and can be rotated by
means of an adjusting device. By this means, a moving illumination
pattern can be created, thus increasing the warning or signal
effect.
According to a further development of the invention, the projection
body is rotatably driven by an angular velocity depending on the
driving speed of the vehicle, so that the signal effect of the
lighting appliance allows conclusions on the driving speed of the
vehicle.
These aspects are merely illustrative of the innumerable aspects
associated with the present invention and should not be deemed as
limiting in any manner. These and other aspects, features and
advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the
following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the
referenced drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, which
illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the
invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the
same parts throughout the views.
FIG. 1 A front view of a lighting appliance with a light unit for
the creation of a given light function and a light surface
magnifying unit for the creation of an additional light surface
with an illumination pattern.
FIG. 2 A lateral front view of the lighting appliance according to
FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 A horizontal section of the lighting appliance according to
FIG. 1,
FIG. 4 A horizontal section of the lighting appliance according to
FIG. 1 in the region of a light source of the light surface
magnifying unit.
FIG. 5 A perspective lateral front view of the light surface
magnifying unit on which the light unit abuts from the outside,
FIG. 6 A perspective front view of the light surface magnifying
unit with representation of a striped illumination pattern,
FIG. 7 A perspective front view of the light surface magnifying
unit with representation of a punctiform illumination pattern.
FIG. 8 A perspective lateral view of a lighting appliance with a
light surface magnifying unit in which a transmitted-light
projection of an illuminated pattern occurs.
FIG. 9 An exploded perspective lateral view of the lighting
appliance according to FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 A top plan exploded view of the lighting appliance
according to FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following detailed description numerous specific details are
set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the
invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that the present invention may be practiced without these
specific details. For example, the invention is not limited in
scope to the particular type of industry application depicted in
the figures. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures,
and components have not been described in detail so as not to
obscure the present invention.
A lighting appliance for vehicles can be used for signal functions
in rear lamps or headlamps.
The lighting appliance comprises a pot-shaped housing 1, in which a
light unit 2 for the creation of a given light function, as for
example stop and or tail light or direction indicator function is
arranged as well as a light surface magnifying unit 3.
The light unit 2 comprises a line-shaped light guide 4 comprising a
line-shaped surface for the coupling-in of light and an opposing
line-shaped surface for the coupling-out of light 5. The
line-shaped surface for the coupling-out of light 5 is embodied as
a curve resp. an arc. Opposing flat sides 6 extend between the
line-shaped surfaces for the coupling-out of light 5 and the
line-shaped surfaces for the coupling-in of light, on which the
light emitted by the light sources, which are not represented,
arranged in rows along the line-shaped surface for the coupling-in
of light and coupled-in by the surface for the coupling-in of light
is guided in the direction of the surface for the coupling-out of
light 5. The flat light guide 4 is assigned such a number of light
sources, that the given light function can be created by the light
unit 2 alone. However, a light surface formed by the line-shaped
surface for the coupling-out of light 5 of the light unit 2 is so
small, that the minimum requirements on a light surface cannot be
fulfilled for certain light functions, such as stop and direction
indicator light (SAE approval in the USA: 50 cm.sup.2 min.).
The light surface magnifying unit 3 is directly adjacent in the
vertical direction to the light unit 2 being open toward the top in
the vertical direction, a dome-shaped projection surface 7 having a
concentric or partially concentric shape. A front edge 8 of the
projection screen 7 is arranged immediately adjacent relative to
the surface for the coupling-out of light 5 of the light unit 2.
The light unit 2 emits a light beam L1 in the main radiation
direction H to create the given light function. Furthermore, the
light surface magnifying unit 3 comprises a central light source 9
and a mask template unit 10, by means of which a light beam L2
radiated from the light source 9 can be created according to a
given illumination pattern. The mask template unit 10 has
essentially a cylinder-shaped projection body.
For the creation of the illumination pattern, the mask template
unit 10 resp. the projection body comprises an external transparent
cylinder 11 and an internal transparent cylinder 12, each being
arranged coaxially relative to the light source 9 resp. in the
direction of the main radiation direction H. The so-called double
cylinder 11, 12 is fastened on one side on a holding element 13
close to the top and on the other side on an opposing end support
14. The end support 14 is fastened to a shield 15 preventing
undesirable radiation of the second light beam L2 in an upper
vertical area.
A masking film 17 comprising lightproof and light-transmissive
sections is arranged in a gap 16 between the external cylinder 11
and the internal cylinder 12. The masking film 17 can, for example,
be made from a transparent film comprising printed black,
lightproof stripes, so that a masking film 17' according to FIG. 6
is embodied for the creation of a striped illumination pattern 19'
being projected onto the projection screen 7. A punctiform pattern
of a masking film 17'' according to FIG. 7 can produce a punctiform
illumination pattern 19''. The lightproof section of the masking
film 17, 17', 17'' is produced by a black print. The
light-transmissive section of the masking film 17, 17', 17'' is
formed by the transparent film. Alternatively, several printed
films could also be provided as masking films 17.
Alternatively, at least one of the cylinders 11, 12 can also have a
corresponding masking, so that an additional film is not
required.
The illumination pattern can be applied to the cylinder 11, 12 for
example by means of a coil silkscreen printing process.
According to an alternative embodiment of the invention the
projection body can have a ball shape or a different shape instead
of a cylinder or tube shape. It is essential, that the projection
body is arranged at a distance to the light source 9 so that an
illumination pattern 19', 19'' is projected onto the projection
screen 7.
The projection screen 7 is embodied as a reflective surface, which
deflects the radiated light in the main radiation direction H. The
projection screen 7 has such diffuse and/or opaque reflective
surfaces, that the illumination pattern 19', 19'' is visible on the
projection screen 7 from the outside. The projection surface 7 does
therefore not have the reflecting surfaces usually featured by
dome-shaped reflectors of lighting appliances.
The holding element 13 has cone-shaped reflective sections 18, on
which a partial light beam L2' of the light source 9 is deflected
transverse to the main radiation direction H in direction of the
projection body 10 resp. the cylinder 11, 12. The cone-shaped
reflective sections 18 do therefore serve as light deflecting
means, so that almost the entire light beam L2 emitted by the light
source 9 can be used for the creation of the illumination pattern,
on the projection screen 7. Therefore, the projection screen 7
forms a relatively large second light surface running vertical
relative to the main radiation direction H. Together with the light
surface 5 of the light unit 3 it forms a total light surface
exceeding the minimum light surface.
According to an alternative embodiment of the invention which is
not represented, the masking can also be embodied by optical
elements or surface structures or laser engravings on at least one
of the cylinders 11, 12.
Alternatively, several light sources, preferably LED light sources
can be provided instead of a single light source 9, so that by
simple means an angle deviation of the light resp. a lack of
definition in the projected image is achieved which creates an
additional depth effect or 3D-effect.
According to an alternative embodiment of the invention an
LED-light source and a rod-shaped light guide can be provided
instead of an LED light source 9, wherein the light guide receives
the light of the LED light source and then radiates it in a circle
resp. regularly in the direction of the cylinder 11, 12.
According to an alternative embodiment of the invention the
projection body 10 together with the holding element 13 and the end
support 14 can also be rotatably supported as a rotating mask
template unit. The LED light source 9 is arranged fixed. The
rotatable mask template unit is connected to an adjusting device,
preferably an electric motor, which rotates the rotatable mask
template unit by an axis of rotation D running parallel to the main
radiation direction H at a constant or non-constant angular
velocity. The angular velocity of this rotatable mask template unit
can, for example, be dependent on the driving speed of the vehicle,
wherein a low driving speed lets the mask template unit rotate at a
low angular velocity and a high driving speed lets the mask
template unit rotate at a high angular velocity. The mask template
unit is preferably driven in steps, wherein the speed signal is
provided by sensors on the crankshaft or on wheels of the
vehicle.
According to an alternative embodiment of the invention which is
not represented, the projection body 10 can also be ball-shaped
instead of cylinder-shaped. Alternatively, it can also be
polygonal, for example hexagonal or octagonal. The shape of the
projection body 10 is adapted to the shape of the projection screen
7 resp. vice versa, so that an optimal illumination of the
projection graphic resp. imaging of the projection body on the
projection screen is ensured.
According to an alternative embodiment of the invention which is
not represented, the light unit 2 can also have a rod-shaped light
guide having only a punctiform surface for the coupling-out of
light instead of a flat light guide. For example, several
rod-shaped light guides can be arranged at a distance relative to
one another, the signal function being formed by the sum of the
punctiform surfaces for the coupling-out of light.
According to a further embodiment of the invention according to the
FIGS. 8 to 10, a light surface magnifying unit 3' is provided, in
which a transmitted-light projection of an illumination pattern 29
takes place instead of a reflected-light projection according to
the embodiment according to the FIGS. 1 to 7. The light surface
magnifying unit 3' comprises a light source 9' and a mask template
unit 10' arranged in a main radiation direction H in front of the
light source 9. The mask template unit 10' comprises a masking
plate 27 with a multitude of light-transmissive stripes 28.
Therefore, the masking plate 27, like the masking film 17, has
light-transmissive and light-proof sections. The masking plate 27
extends transverse to the main radiation direction H, while the
masking film 17 runs essentially in the main radiation
direction.
In the main radiation direction H in front of the masking plate 27,
there is a projection screen 7', preferably inclined toward the
masking plate 27, which can be embodied as a translucent or
structured lens.
A Fresnel lens 30 is arranged in the main radiation direction H
behind the masking plate 27, which achieves a parallelization of a
light beam L3 emitted by the light source 9'. The Fresnel lens 30
can also be omitted according to an alternative embodiment.
Therefore, the light surface magnifying unit 3' allows an
illumination pattern 29 on the projection screen 7', which achieves
a light surface magnification for the light beam L1 radiated by the
light unit 2.
Identical components resp. component functions of the embodiments
have the same reference signs.
According to an alternative embodiment of the invention which is
not represented, the light unit 2 can, instead of a flat light
guide, comprise an arrangement of several reflectors or Fresnel
lenses, wherein the signal function results from the sum of the
reflectors or Fresnel lenses arranged next to one another.
The preferred embodiments of the invention have been described
above to explain the principles of the invention and its practical
application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to utilize
the invention in the best mode known to the inventors. However, as
various modifications could be made in the constructions and
methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the
scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in
the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings
shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus,
the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be
limited by the above-described exemplary embodiment, but should be
defined only in accordance with the following claims appended
hereto and their equivalents.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
1 Housing 2 Lighting unit 3 Light surface magnifying unit 4 Light
guide 5 Surface for the coupling-out of light 6 Flat side 7
Projection screen 8 Edge 9 Light source 10 Mask template unit 11
External transparent cylinder 12 Internal transparent cylinder 13
Holding element 14 End support 15 Shield 16 Gap 17, 17', 17''
Masking film 18 Reflective sections 19', 19'' Illumination pattern
L1 Light beam L2, L2' Light beam H Main radiation direction D Axis
of rotation
* * * * *